Lighted match dispenser

ABSTRACT

A lighted match dispenser comprises a match container and means to move matches one-by-one, head end first, in striking contact against a flexible striking band. The match head presses the band against the periphery of a rotatable drum with a component of force peripherally of the drum sufficient to cause a small rotation of the drum and a small advance of the flexible band. In this way, the band is automatically advanced so that fresh portions are presented to subsequent match heads. Continued movement of the match in the same direction extends the match out of the dispenser, lighted end first, to a position in which it can be grasped and removed by the user.

ilnited States Patent Bargain [4 1 Jan. 23, 1973 1 1 LIGHTED MATCHDISPENSER 1,028,106 6/1912 Forsyth ..22l/141 x [75] Inventor: JeanBargain, Thiers, France A Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman [73]Assignee: Unimeco Anstalt', Vaduz, Liechten- Assistant Examine, ThomasKocovsky Stein AttorneyYoung & Thompson [22] Filed: Sept. 21, 1970 v[57] ABSTRACT [21] App]. No.: 73,986

Y A lighted match dispenser comprises a match container and means tomove matches one-by-one, head [30] Foreign Apphcamm Prim-"y Dam endfirst, in striking contact against a flexible striking Oct. 10,1969France ..6934895 band. The match head presses the band against theperiphery of a rotatable drum with a component of [52] [1.8. Ci..22l/l4l force peripherally of the drum sufficient to cause a [51] Int.Cl. ..A24f 29/00 small rotation of the drum and a small advance of the[58] Field'of Search.., 221/267, 136-442 flexible band In this way, theband is automatically advanced so that fresh portions are presented tosubl References Cited sequent match heads. Continued movement of thematch in the same direction extends the match out of UNITED STATESPATENTS the dispenser, lighted end first, to a position in which1,237,184 8/1917 Ensminger ..221/138 it can be grasped and removed bythe user. 1,208,991 12/1916 Lekas .22l/l39 345,914 7/1886 May ..221/l416 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENI nmza I975 3.712.508

SHEET 2 OF 2 1 LIGHTED MATCH DISPENSER The present invention has for itsobject the provision of a device for the dispensing of matches withautomatic lighting comprising a body intended to receive the matches,and means for permitting to bring the matches one after the otherthrough a lighting device to a delivery position. I

Lighted match dispensers are known which deliver one after the othertheir lighted matches. The lighting devices comprise either a rubbingband or a rubbing surface against a portion of which each match isscratched during its delivery. Means are provided to periodicallydisplace the rubbing band or the rubbing surface so that new portions ofit will be in contact with the match to be delivered since after acertain number of lightings this surface is worn out and does notguarantee an automatic lightening of these delivered matches.

These devices have the drawback of being obliged to modify manually andperiodically the position of the rubbing band or rubbing surface. Infact either the user forgets to adjust the lighter and the matches donot light during their delivery or he adjusts it too frequently, aftereach lighting for example, and it soon wears out.

The present invention concerns a match dispenser having automaticlighting mechanism tending to obviate the recited drawbacks by the factthat the means for feeding one after the other the matches to theirdelivery position comprises a piston for moving the matches one by onein a channel under the action of a blade spring tending to apply thehead of a match against a rubbing band of the automatic lighting deviceand by the fact that this rubbing band is driven a certain distancethrough the rubbing of each match during its delivery.

The drawing shows schematically and by way of example one embodiment ofthe lighted match dispenser according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lighted match dispenser. A match isrepresented lighted in holding or delivery position. v

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the elements constituting thedistributor.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispenser seen from the other sidethe lids being removed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-section along line A-A of FIG.6, a match being engaged in the inlet channel. FIG. 5 is a fragmentaryside view in transverse crosssection along line 8-1! of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a corresponding plan view of the dispenser.

FIG. 7 is a side view in transverse cross-section of the lighter alongline C-C of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlargedfragment view'in crossof FIG. 7 during theengagement of a match head within the opening of the support plate ofthe lighter.

FIG. 9 shows the FIG. 8 structure viewed from the left.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but at the end of the strokeengaging the head of a match in the sloped notch located in front of therubbing band.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but corresponding 1 to FIG. 10.

The lighted matches dispenser shown comprises a casing 1 preferably ofparallelepipedic shape with its upper face open and the rear part ofwhich, transversely limited through a support plate 2 of the lighterconstitutes the container 3 for the matches 4.

This container 3 comprises a longitudinally sloped bottom in order toobtain a greater height at the location of the heads 5 of the matches 4which are stacked and transversely sloped to constitute an inclinedplan. This inclined plane is laterally connected with a ramp 6presenting a plurality of transverse grooves 7, having the general shapeof a comb. This ramp 6 terminates transversely in a space or channel 8with respect to the corresponding inside face of the lateral side of theeasing 1.

The U shaped channel 8 presents in front of the end face of the ramp 6and in its middle a restriction e permitting the passage of only onematch 4 at a time. The two ends of this channel 8 are larger to permitthe entering of slightly curved matches.

The lower face of the channel 8 has a height having three differentlevels extending parallelly the one to the others, comprising a lowerlevel 9 which houses a leaf spring 10, an intermediate level 11 and atits rear end a higher level 12 on which the end of the match 4 restsafter its admission into the channel 8.

A piston 13 of rectangular section and of a height lower than thesection of a match in order not to act simultaneously on twosuperimposed matches, is disposed in a longitudinal groove 14 locatedparallel to the bottom within the thickness of the corresponding lateralside of the casing l and in the plane of the higher level 12.

The piston 13 constitutes at the outside a push-button 15, limited inits forward stroke (greater than the length ofa match) by the end of thegroove 14.

This piston has a length such that its rear end can not be blocked atthe end of its stroke by the next match 4 entering in-the channel 8 andhindering thus its return stroke.

It is also to be noted that the forward end of the groove 14 constitutesa window'16 in which the piston 13 is inserted during its assembly,whereas a small outside boss 17 on the bottom of the case .1 cooperateswith slot 18 of the push-button 15 to avoid its unwanted transverseslipping during its positioning in front of the said window 16.

On the opposite side the bottom of the case there is also a smallabutment boss 19 which enters the rear slot 20 of the push-button 15 inorder to position its rear position precisely. During charging, thepush-button 15 occupies the rear position, and it suffices'to inclinetransversely the case 1 to cause by slipping on the inclined plane andon the ramp 6 the admission of one or two superimposed matches 4 in thechannel 8. i

It is also to be seen that the inclination of the casing 1 permits onthe other hand, thanks to the slope 21 of the rear inside wall of thecase 1, correctly to position the matches 4 in front of the channel 8.

Following the inclined plane and the ramp 6, the casing 1 is extendedforwardly by a flat bottom, comprising a transversal groove 22 intendedfor the coupling of the support'plate 2 of the lighter of the lightingdevice which is slidably mounted between the longitudinal sides of thecase. This plate 2 presents at its base and in front of the channel 8 asquared aperture 23 having a rounded edge, intended to give free passageto the head of the match 4. On the other side a notched drum 24adequately located with respect to the aperture 23, revolves around afixed axis 25 and by its underside guides a rubbing band 26 wound onitself and located in a shell or cylindrical chamber 27 having atangential outlet 28.

The leaf spring located in the lower level 9 of the channel 8 is bent atits rear end to constitute an offset leg 29 which enters by hooking inan aperture 30 crossing the bottom and rests at the outside in acorresponding recess as shown in FIG. 4. On the opposite side the spring10 crosses freely the squared aperture 23 and rises to ensure aresilient action on the rubbing band 26 guided by the periphery of thedrum 24 (FIG. 7).

Thereafter, the rubbing-band 28 leaves through a window 31 in thecorresponding longitudinal side of the case 1.

It is also to be noted that in front of the upper part of the squaredopening 23 of the plate 2 the inside corresponding face of thelongitudinal side of the casing 1 comprises a shaped notch 32 having a Vshaped squared section, extending slopingly above the drum 24 (accordingto line .x-y of FIG. 11) and reaches the outside through aperture 33.

This assembly is completed by two sliding lids 34 and 35 which arejuxtaposed and the sides of which are bent to form U shaped slides tocooperate with the upper and lateral grooves 36 of the casing. One ofthe lids 34 of small width covers the lighter assembly, whereas theother lid 35 enables the opening of the casing l to fill it. The lid 35has an elongated aperture 37 located in front of the forward end of thechannel 8 to enable to the user to see whether a match is in place.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

The match 4 in the channel 8 is pushed forward by means of the piston 13fast with the push-button and its head 5, which rests on the leaf spring10 enters the squared opening 23 of the support plate 2 of the lighteras shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The head 5 urged up-wards by the resiliency of the spring 10 presses onthe rubbing-band 26 and applies it tangentially on the drum 24 to causethus through a wedging action against the drum, the entry of the head 5into the lower part of the squared groove 32.

The pushing effort continuing, the head 5 slides in the sloped profileof the said groove 32 along a sloped longitudinal axis with respect tothe axis of the drum 24.

Therefore, the initial resting point of the head 5 on the rubbing band26, shown by the line a-a in FIG. 10 moves up to the line a-a'corresponding to the end of the groove 32. This causes on the one handthe circular displacement of the drum 24 through an angle a and on theother hand a progressive narrowing between said groove 32 and theperiphery of the drum causing thus by friction the lighting of the head5 of the match 4.

The rotation of the drum 24 ensures the linear displacement bysuccessive steps of the rubbing-band 26 during each passage of a match,so that it presents always a new portion of band for the next match. Therubbing ban dis thus a tomaticall y driven uring the dispen mg 0 eachmatc The wo part of e ru mg band 26 leaves through aperture 31 and maybe torn off and disposed of by the user.

At the end of the stroke of the push-bottom 15-, the lighted match comesout of the casing 1 through aperture 33, as shown in FIG. 1 and is heldstill by the action of the spring 13.

It is to be noted that the next match constitutes an ejector, however,it is possible to manually take out each lighted match.

This dispenser may advantageously be manufactured off plastic material,either in the shape of a small box, or further in the form of a walldispenser holding a larger quantity of matches.

Iclaim:

l. A lighted match dispenser, comprising a container for a supply ofmatches, a drum mounted for rotation on and relative to the container, aband of flexible material trained over the drum and having a surface onwhich matches may be struck on the side of the band which is oppositethe drum, means for moving the matches from said supply of matches oneby one through and out of the container to a dispensed position in adirection transverse to the direction of movement of said band over saiddrum, and means carried by said container for imparting to the head ofeach advancing match a minor component of movement tangential to theperiphery of the drum and for pressing said head against said band andsaid band against said drum to rotate said drum and to advance saidband.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, said match moving means comprisingreciprocating pusher means that engages said matches one-by-one at theend of each match opposite the head.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, there being a supply of said handrolled up in said container.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, said container having an openingtherethrough for the exit of used portions of said band.

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, the last-named means comprising aportion of the container having a cam surface thereon.

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, the last-named means comprising aleaf-spring pressing the match head against said band on said drum.

4! I l 4' t

1. A lighted match dispenser, comprising a container for a supply ofmatches, a drum mounted for rotation on and relative to the container, aband of flexible material trained over the drum and having a surface onwhich matches may be struck on the side of the band which is oppositethe drum, means for moving the matches from said supply of matches oneby one through and out of the container to a dispensed position in adirection transverse to the direction of movement of said band over saiddrum, and means carried by said container for imparting to the head Ofeach advancing match a minor component of movement tangential to theperiphery of the drum and for pressing said head against said band andsaid band against said drum to rotate said drum and to advance saidband.
 2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, said match moving meanscomprising reciprocating pusher means that engages said matchesone-by-one at the end of each match opposite the head.
 3. A dispenser asclaimed in claim 1, there being a supply of said band rolled up in saidcontainer.
 4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, said container havingan opening therethrough for the exit of used portions of said band.
 5. Adispenser as claimed in claim 1, the last-named means comprising aportion of the container having a cam surface thereon.
 6. A dispenser asclaimed in claim 1, the last-named means comprising a leaf-springpressing the match head against said band on said drum.